GB2216700A

GB2216700A - An electronic appliance display for an electrical appliance

Info

Publication number: GB2216700A
Application number: GB8829435A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Meisner
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1987-12-18
Filing date: 1988-12-16
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-16
Also published as: FR2625016A1; GB8829435D0; GB2216700B; FR2625016B3; DE8716706U1

Abstract

An electrical appliance, more especially a microwave oven time switch, has two electronic displays 2, 3 arranged one above the other. At least the one display consists of a single display element in which the imprinting of symbols and alphanumeric data is selected by the user. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE This invention relates to an electronic appliance, more especially a cooker time switch, having a first electronic display for numerical data and a second electronic display, arranged thereunder, for symbols or alphanumeric data associated with functions.

Electronic appliances of the type mentioned at the beginning hereof are known, for example, from DE-PS 29 50 517, in which publication a microwave oven is described which has an electronic display for the time and a display, arranged thereunder, for the temperature. The latter display is equipped with alphanumeric data and symbols. This second-mentioned display has luminous spots or dots, above which the associated temperature data is imprinted or provided. A direct formation of luminous symbols or luminous characters directly under the first display having the segments for the time display was not possible at the point in time of the date of application of the said Patent.

This invention is mainly concerned with arranging two similar electronic displays directly one under the other and of giving the second display an appearance which differs clearly from the conventional one.

In accordance with this invention the arrangement of the symbols or alphanumeric data on the surface of at least the second display is spatially and creatively freely selectable.

In the case of the previously customary electronic displays the display elements, which respectively contain one or more seven-segment digits, are suspended by means of small integrally-formed legs (which accept or conduct the power supply) from a frame part and come to rest directly above the surface of the display. In the case of vacuum fluorescent displays this surface is honeycombed in design. Since, in the case of these display elements, the said small legs extend upwards and downwards - in order to make possible a parallel arrangement of several such elements - it has been in the past possible to arrange a further row of display elements underneath these display elements only with difficulty. Indeed, the small fastening legs thereof had to be passed through between the display elements of the upper row.

In the present invention we are now able to glue the display elements, in the case of vacuum fluorescence displays directly onto the honeycombed surface, and to avoid the said small legs. We can arrange, underneath a first row of display elements, a second row of such elements. The present invention envisages use in the lower row of a single display element, the width of which can extend over the overall width of all the display elements of the upper row. On this lower display element now by means of screen-printing processes the desired symbols are applied in any arrangement and distribution afforded by the spatial dimensions and the symbols can glow upon appropriate control in the same way as the segments of the digital display located thereabove. The light colour of the controlled symbols can be predetermined by appropriate colouration of the symbols.

As a result of this design in accordance with the present invention there emerge completely new design formation possibilities for electronic displays. It follows that also the display elements of the upper row, if a single display element of appropriate width is used, can likewise be designed anew.

The present invention will be explained furthermore briefly, by way of example, with reference to the drawing by an exemplified embodiment.

Shown in the single figure is the front view of a cooker time switch with a front panel 1 of a first row of display elements 2 and a second row of display elements 3 as well as a group of actuating keys 4 and a rotary knob 5. The display elements 2 are intended for the time display 2a, the display of the mean temperature 2b, the short time interval 2c and the microwave duration 2d.

Shown in the lower display 3 are a series of symbols for the control of the cooker by the keys 4 and the rotary knob 5. These symbols are, both with respect to their spatial arrangement in the display 3 and in their design, determinable in detail by the user and can be applied by himself or by the manufacturer of the display by screen printing onto the corresponding display element 6 which is the only one over the entire width. These symbols and alphanumeric data glow upon control in the same way as the individual segments of the display elements 2 of the upper row. The symbols are predetermined to glow separately from one another, although it is possible that two or three symbols may glow simultaneously. The lower display has a matrix arrangement so that the symbols may be located in a free orientation rather than predetermined energising locations.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced by any equivalent or generic term where sensible. Further, it is to be understood that individual features, methods or functions related to the electronic appliance and/or second electronic display or combinations of the first and second display might be individually patentably inventive.

Therefore, further according to the present invention there is provided an electronic display in which an arrangement of symbols or alphanumeric data on the surface of the display is spatially and creatively freely selectable.

Claims

1. An electronic appliance, for example a cooker time switch, comprising a first electronic display for numerical data and a second electronic display, arranged thereunder, for symbols or alphanumeric data associated with functions, characterised in that the arrangement of the symbols or alphanumeric data on the surface df at least the second display is spatially and creatively or constructionally freely selectable.

2. An electronic appliance according to Claim 1, characterised in that at least the second electronic display is a vacuum fluorescent display.

3. An electronic appliance according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first electronic display is built up from several elements (e.g. 2a to 2d) lying side-by-side, each element (grid) having at least one 7segment digit, and in that the second electronic display consists of a single element extending over the entire width of the first display.

4. An electronic appliance according to Claim 2, characterised in that the first and/or second electronic display has on its surface a honeycomb structure, onto which the elements are glued.

5. An electronic appliance according to Claim 4, characterised in that the digits, symbols and alphanumeric data are applied to the elements in screen printing.

6. An electronic appliance according to Claim 5, characterised in that the screen printing is applied in various colours.

7. An electronic device having a first electronic display (glued in place) and a second electronic display (glued in place) adjacent to said first electronic display and preferably directly underneath, at least one of the electronic displays being for alphanumeric data or symbols associated with functions of the device, said data or symbols having been arranged or being arrangeable, in a free or variably selective manner over the surface of the second display, preferably, in such manner that the alphanumeric data or symbols are individually energisable and glow upon associated control of said second display.

8. A method of providing display information in an electronic device having an electronic display, said method comprising: (a) arranging for the display of alphanumeric data or symbols connected with the function of the device to be provided on the display in a free or variably selective manner, possibly by the user, over the surface of the display, and preferably in such manner that the data or symbols are individually energisable and glow upon associated control of the display.

9. Apparatus comprising an electronic device having first and second electronic displays, said first display being for numerical data and the second display being for symbols or alphanumeric data associated with functions of said device, said apparatus comprising means for the user to apply a plurality of different symbols or alphanumeric data to said second display, and the arrangement being such that said different symbols or alphanumeric data can be applied thereto in a free or variably selective manner over the surface of the second display, preferably, in such manner that the symbols or alphanumeric data are individually energisable and glow upon associated control of said second display.

10. An electronic appliance comprising a first electronic display built up from several elements (e.g.

2a to 2d) lying side-by-side, each element having at least one 7-segment digit, and further comprising a second electronic display consisting of a single element extending over the entire width of the first display, said second element preferably being under the first and/or preferably contiguous therewith.

11. An electronic appliance substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the single figure of the drawings.